📏 Form Guide

Athletic Bilbao

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Athletic Bilbao enter this match coming off the back of a 1-1 Copa del Rey stalemate against Mallorca.

Their latest results show that there has been much resilience in the Athletic Bilbao backline. Athletic Bilbao have kept it tight, seeing the tally of goals that have gone past their goalkeeper during their previous 6 matches standing at 3.

Going into this encounter, Athletic Bilbao have not been beaten in their last 14 home league matches. What a fantastic run.

Villarreal

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Since being defeated in their last game at the hands of Atlético Madrid in La Liga competition, Villarreal and their fans will hope to get a better result this time.

In that match, Villarreal had 52% possession and 11 attempts at goal with 2 on target. The only player to score for Villarreal was Alexander Sørloth (50'). Atletico Madrid had 14 shots at goal with 8 of them on target. Axel Witsel (9') and Saúl (87') scored for Atlético Madrid.

Showing their penchant for productive matches, goals have been scored 23 times in the previous six matches in which Villarreal have taken to the pitch, giving an average of 3.83 goals per clash. Opposing teams have hit 10 of those goals. Despite that, we must now wait to see whether such a trend shall be replicated in this game or not.

Leading up to this clash, Villarreal:

• have not beaten Athletic Bilbao when they've played them away from home in the last 4 league matches. They really have not been travelling well at all.
• are undefeated in their previous 4 league matches away from home.

🤜🤛 Head to head

Checking on their most recent head to head meetings going back to 21/02/2021 shows that Athletic Bilbao have won 3 of these and Villarreal 1, with the tally of draws standing at 2.

19 goals were yielded between them during those clashes, with 9 from Los Leones and 10 coming from El Submarino Amarillo. The average goals per game has been 3.17.

The last league match featuring these clubs was La Liga match day 12 on 05/11/2023 when the final score was Villarreal 2-3 Athletic Bilbao.

In that match, Villarreal had 58% possession and 17 attempts on goal with 6 on target. Goals were scored by Gerard Moreno (86') and Alexander Sørloth (87').

Athletic Bilbao had 17 attempts at goal with 7 on target. Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta (2'), Nico Williams (22') and Iñaki Williams (30') scored.

The match was refereed by Guillermo Cuadra Fernández.

📰 Team News: Athletic Bilbao

It doesn’t get much better regarding selection, with just one fitness concern for the Athletic Bilbao manager Ernesto Valverde to be concerned with due to a largely intact group of players. Yeray Álvarez (Adductor injury) will miss out. Iñigo Ruiz de Galarreta is ineligible for this match because of suspension.

It’s our opinion that Los Leones may well employ a 4-2-3-1 system this time, beginning the first half with Unai Simon, Oscar de Marcos, Daniel Vivian, Aitor Paredes, Inigo Lekue, Benat Prados, Dani Garcia, Inaki Williams, Oihan Sancet, Nico Williams and Gorka Guruzeta.

🗞️ Team News: Villarreal

Villarreal boss Marcelino García Toral has to choose from a squad that has some fitness concerns. Ramón Terrats (Meniscus injury), Yéremy Pino (Cruciate ligament surgery) and Denis Suárez (Tendon rupture) won’t be making appearances.

We reckon that El Submarino Amarillo might begin the game with a 4-4-2 system, starting the game with Filip Joergensen, Kiko, Raul Albiol, Yerson Mosquera, Jorge Cuenca, Bertrand Traore, Daniel Parejo, Santi Comesana, Alejandro Baena, Gerard Moreno and Alexander Soerloth.

💡 Prediction

We’re thinking that Athletic Bilbao will, in all likelihood, stay in control for long periods of time and should be able to convert a few of the chances that they create.

In contrast, Villarreal could well struggle to break down their defence - but, we do see them pulling one back during this clash.

We’re therefore expecting to see a fairly comfortable 3-1 win for Athletic Bilbao at the conclusion of the game.

Our expert partners are tipping under 3.5 goals for this match. Check out their VIP predictions here.

Lucas Pereira, 16:02 14/04/2024